News from the holy oaks home. On sunday night, Lieutenant Governor, secretary and i first learned of the tragic situation that was unfolding at the holy oaks home. As of today, there are 13 confirmed deaths at the facility with at least six attributed to covid19. Someone who visited this amazing place on multiple occasions and found it to be a source of joy and grace and comfort and kindness for the residents their families and the staff that works there this episode is a gutwrenching loss that is nothing short of devastating to all of us. Our hearts go out to the families and the loved ones and the staff who have been so horribly impacted by this series of events. We have Public Health experts on the ground conducting thorough review of the Health Status of all the residents and staff there. We spoke to several members new team on the ground there this morning. Immediate steps have been taken such as implementing clinical command team and testing all patients and staff at the facility. Were also deploying wide variety of available resources to help them. This includes the National Guard, resources from the state personal protective equipment supply and medical professionals from other state facilities. I want to extend on behalf all of us our deepest sympathies to the members of the holy oaks home and their community. There are many of our states finest all of whom served our country and all of whom who sacrificed on our behalf. I will need to say this in advance. Our primary focus is going to be on stabilizing and supporting the health and safety of the residents and their families and we will get to the bottom of what happened and when and by who. As we continue in this battle againstagainst covid19, we had to take unprecedented measures to stop the spread of the virus. About a week ago as many you know, i issued an emergency order requiring closure of nonessential businesses that was in effect until tuesday april 7th. I directed department of Public Health to issue stayathome advisory for all residents in the commonwealth. This weekend, the federal government announced an extension to the White House Coronavirus social distancing guidelines that would be in effect until april 30th. As they state the peak surge of the virus to come nationally some time in the next two weeks. They stated that by extending the distancing guidelines through april, their hope is to mitigate the spread of virus and reduce amount of people across the country that could potentially contract the disease. Here in massachusetts, weve taken some of the earliest and most aggressive steps. In the country to slow the spread of this virus. We must continue to be aggressive in our pursuit. Today, im announcing an extension of the time line for nonessential businesses to keep their physical workplaces and facility closed to all workers customers and the public until may 4th. This new designation services will take Effect Tomorrow april 1st at noon. This order also extends the 10person limit on social gatherings until may 40. 4th. Were issuing updated of list and organizations that provide essential services and workforces related to covid19 that will continue to operate during this time period. Ill get into more detail what this entails in a minute. I want everybody to know that we appreciate the huge impact on our economy and our daily lives that these decisions have and they have not been made lightly. Based on the fact on the ground, our department of Public Health guidance to extend the stayathome advisory outlining selfisolation and social distancing protocols needs to remain in effect through may 4th as well. I know this is difficult to hear. We need everyone to continue to go without being around many of your family and most of your friends for your own health and safety and for the health and safety of your family, your friends and others. Most of you know my weekly visits with my 91yearold father, are phone calls. As i said previously, neither one of us are very good at that. I miss him. Thats just the way it is. Its the way it should be. Its the way all of us need to be as purposeful as we can be in dealing with the contagious nature of this virus. For State Government workers were also issuing an extension of the guidance to the executive branch employees regarding working from home that we put in place previously and that will also be extended until may 4th. As we get ready to face what were printing to predicting to be surge here in massachusetts these actions will improve our ability to mitigate the spread of covid19 and the impact the surge has on our Healthcare System. We know that for many businesses and individuals, the measures that have been put in place have come at a very high cost. This includes the many local and home grown Small Businesses in massachusetts that we are so proud of. For them and for many others, it is not been an easy time. We respect that. We know that todays news wont make it any easier. I know i speak for me and the Lieutenant Governor when you say weve had many conversations with businesses across the commonwealth that were deem nonessential. Its concerning that is to them, with respect to the ongoing nature and potentially the future of their operations, they understand why were doing it and why its an important step to ensure the health and safety of them and their employees and others here in the commonwealth. If we can limit face to face, persontoperson contact now. We can slow the spread and get back to work as soon as and safely as possibly can. Last week most people know, we posted a specific list of business categories that we considered to be essential supporting the commonwealth through this emergency. As a result, weve updated the categories and some of these changes include, clarity around the supply chain, that supports other essential services, adding Healthcare Providers like optometrist and chiropractors. Expanding types of workers providing disinfectant and sanitation services. Based on the new guidance, we directed the department of Public Health to issue order for hotellens and motels and shortterm rentals like airbnb. They should be used with limited purpose only. For example, as housing, for front line healthcare workers or massachusetts residents who have been otherwise displaced from their homes or to house workers who are part of our essential Business Community. The point here is to reserve these spaces for people who need them as a result of circumstances that relate to or caused by covid19 or other emergencies. Hotels in shortterm rentals like airbnb, may no longer be booked for vacation or leisure purposes. People should really be using common sense on this one. Should not be going on vacation right now. As weve said in our advisory and as many other Public Officials at the state, federal and local level have said, people should be staying at home. As weve stated before, essential businesses need to and will continue to operate. Restaurants and other businesses may continue to offer food for takeout and delivery if they follow the social distancing measures that weve put in place. Were extremely grateful for the many Grocery Store workers, gas station attendant, farmers, local, state and federal Government Employee and others who continue to go to work and provide these necessary essential services to the residents of the commonwealth. This updated list will be published later today at www. Www. Mass. Gov covid19. Our dialogue with the Business Community has been very productive and some ways supportive of many of the initiatives that we pursued with respect to finding essential workers and businesses. Theres confusion out there. As we all know this is an unprecedented situation. Employee with question should review the covid19 essential Services Frequently Asked questions, created by the executive office of housing and Economic Development which well update to reflect the revised list of essential services were talking about today. Theres a way for businesses to contact and engage with Economic Development on their website and over the course of the past several weeks there have been thousands of back and forth between our team and folks in the Business Community about clarification and engagement. We would urge people to begin by reading through all the information first before they reach out. I like to take a minute to once again thank everyone, especially those at home for their diligence in adhering to this stayathome advisory. People are doing the right thing and theyre not going to work and theyre not going to school. People are pushing off life events like weddings and family reunions and hardest of all, people are missing out on important time spent with loved ones. We weve asked lot of people. Theres more that must be done. Everyone should continue to avoid unnecessary close contact with others and when you go to the Grocery Store or pharmacy stay 6 feet away from the person nearest you. Go outside, go for a walk and go to the park but dont do it in big groups. Dont play basketball just because you can. Or sit on the beach all day with your friends. We cannot have big groups at our parks. Were considering taking some steps. Everyone else need to do their part too. Please continue to do what you can to avoid big groups. We know this is difficult. If these next few weeks will be critical to mitigating the spread of the disease and ensuring our Healthcare System is prepared for what is yet to come. As i mentioned earlier, were extenting the guidance that we issued to executive branch employees to make sure were keeping State Government running and providing key services to those who need it. While still protecting the health and safety of our workforce and the public. All employees performing what weve called functions are able to work remotely should continue to do so until may 4th. Excuse me the closure of school and nonemergency child care programs for may 4th. Executive branch employees that have been required to report to work and need alternative child care arrangements are encouraged to review the list of exempt emergency child care providers. I remind folks many of the Services Offered about the commonwealth that are public or customer facing are provided in person. People should use online tools if they can and many of the other ones are available by appointment only. Yesterday we talked about some of the ways our covid19 Response Command Center is working to establish extensions to the state existing hospital capacity. The command senior begun working with longterm care facilities to establish dedicated still nursing facilities to care for individuals affected we covid19. Individual who are stable, still need medical care can be transferred to recover relieving pressure on hospitals. As we plan for the surge, we requested and received approval for field medical station through fema that will provide additional medical care capacity. This facility is intended to lower acuity care needs that increases local healthcare capacity during largescale emergencies. The commonly wealth has requested three of these stations. This week we received preview from the federal government to deploy 250bed facility at the dcu interest in wooster. It will be used to treat lower acuity patients who still need monitoring. The facility will be stood up starting tomorrow when three tractortrailers will arrive in wooster with the necessary gear and equipment. As far as how grateful we are umass memorial in wooster to step up to staff the facility for the commonwealth. They will lead the daytoday running of the facility once its up. Will support from state and local partners. This facility is another important Building Block and our effort to expand existing healthcare capacity. Were identifying other site and partners to two other facility locations. Let me close by saying this. The next couple of weeks will be critical in this battle. Everyone needs to play their part. People need to stay home as much as possible. Follow the essential business orders weve put in place. Use good personal hygiene and follow the social distancing guidelines to prevent the spread. It will make a huge difference in this fight to everyone here in the commonwealth. At the same time, we understand just how much weve been asking of all of you. Weve asked to stay home to not go to work, to not go to school, to skip weddings, skip funerals, skip going to the houses of worship for many people that are critical to their spiritual development. Weve asked you to miss out on important precious time spent with family traineds. We know we are asking a lot. I want to conclude the same way i started. By pointing out how important it is how purposeful it is that we all take seriously these issues associated with distance. It is in many respects our single biggest weapon in battling covid19. On behalf of Lieutenant Governor and myself and rest of us working on this issue everyday i want to say thank you. I want to say thank you to the nurses and doctors and front line medical workers and First Responders for all that they do. I want to say thank you to our National Guard for getting out there every single day and providing support to our men and women in Public Safety and fire and ems. To the Public Sector workers at the state, federal and local level, i want to thank you all for showing up and serving. To all those essential workers who work with essential businesses that do very important things to keep people in massachusetts healthy and safe, god bless and thank you for all you do as well. The state is filled with remarkable people and remarkable communities. Time and again, we have watched them rise together, to fight, to battle and to win. We are about to enter what will be perhaps the most difficult Period Associated with this particular virus and theres no doubt in my mind Lieutenant Governors mind or anybody elses around here, you will all perform above and beyond. Thank you. I will turn it over to secretary sutter. Thank you Lieutenant Governor, good afternoon. Starting late sunday night, and through monday, a series of actions were taken to ensure a safe environment for our residents at hoya soldiers home and staff. As you know, we quickly acted with the nurse who has served with distinction as the chief executive officer of western mass hospital to assume immediate responsibility for the administration of the hoya oak soldier home. We immediately put together a clinical command team who is on site and who has been on site since monday morning and responsible for Rapid Response to the outbreak of covid19. Also, on site today is the National Guard. The command center command Team Includes people who do not know her. Shes a registered nurse and Healthcare Executive where she served with the distinction for. Six years at western mass hospital and she previously served as coo there for six years. Shes been supervise, hospice nurse and rn in the icu. Joining her is lisa columbo who is doctor of nurseing. Joining them includes cheryl poppy whod the current superintendent of the soldiers home and was four months the acting superintendent of holy oaks soldier home. Along with Mohammed Darr and practice internal medicine in west roxbury. Two nurses one who was fema Incident Commander and also joining is the new director of nursing at the holy oaks soldiers home. We continue to add staff to the team. Our priority is ensure that the home is stabilized. There are 13 deaths as you heard, 6 are covid positive, five pending one negative and one known. 100 of facility veterans and staff are tested for covid19. We rolled out our mobile testing team for Nursing Homes. We started it today in holy oaks. Weve created a family hotline at 413 5524764 its a dedicated line to check on your Family Members and staff by social workers. Its available monday through saturday. Were obviously working with the unions and the staff to ensure everyone is safe. Today, we rolled out weve been planning to do this end of last wook, weve been finalizing. We understand how difficult the social distancing and restrictions that have been in place in Nursing Homes assisted living residents and other Senior Housing facilities. We are asking for public and families who are understandably concerned about their love one, to please redouble their effort to maintain vigilance to social distancing and the visitation restrictions. Reach out regularly by phone or other communication means please do not visit. Managers of thee types of Senior Housing facilities are doing everything were asking them to keep our older residents safe but they need to continue help from the public and families can ensure spread of the virus. As you know we continue to expand testing capacities so massachusetts can continue to isolate positive cases and prevent further spread. Nursing home residents are among the most vulnerable. We need to provide expedited testing and treatment to identify appropriately care for them. Today we implemented a Pilot Project that allows for safe on site tes